Best Christmas Carol CD?

[Old Grumpy]

Someone has just sent me a text message asking for the "best God rest you merry, Gentlemen" on CD. I'm flummoxed. I have only two Christmas carols

As a matter of interest, what recordings would other forum members recommend as their definitive "traditional sound of Christmas"?

None - bah, humbug!

[Wolsey]

None - bah, humbug!

Thanks for the helpful recommendation.

[Nick Armstrong]

None - bah, humbug!

I got you a small present, OG

[EdgeleyRob]

I know it doesn't exactly fit the bill/requirement but this got a very good press hereabouts last year. IMHO most excellent

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terra-Pax-Ch...3986703&sr=8-1

That cd is essential Christmas listening for me,as is Brittens Ceremony of Carols, and this -

[Pabmusic]

Here's a good collection of 'traditionals', most of them in Carols for Choirs arrangements:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Christmas-Carols-Cambridge-College/dp/B000YRNXV2/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&qid=1354103107&sr=8-28

One of the customer reviews complains about a very wide dynamic range. Well, perhaps, but it's no problem for me. Quite impressive, actually.

[Pabmusic]

I know it doesn't exactly fit the bill/requirement but this got a very good press hereabouts last year. IMHO most excellent


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terra-Pax-Ch...3986703&sr=8-1

Yes, I'll second that.

[orbis factor]

Dare I mention this RC alternative..

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67522

Not really carols, I realise

[cloughie]

Neither of these are carol CDs in the strictest sense but both ooze Christmas!

://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Carol-James-Galway/dp/B000XH2CPG/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1354108129&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carol-Sympho...4108258&sr=1-1

[orbis factor]

Gabriel,
I wonder - are you planning on any arrangements of well-known carols for this year?

[cloughie]

Gabriel,
I wonder - are you planning on any arrangements of well-known carols for this year?

I note you stopped short of saying 'Go on be an Angel'

[Y Mab Afradlon]

Can I throw this one into the ring?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Carols-Christ-Church-John-Gardner/dp/B0000030YW

[decantor]

Anyone looking for genuinely Christmassy music without recourse to shepherds washing socks in the dark might do worse than consider this ---

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Three-Kings-Christmas-Tewkesbury/dp/B001GQMOYM/ref=sr_shvl_album_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1354145532&sr=301-4

--- vividly sung, vividly recorded, very seasonal, and very cheap.

[MrGongGong]

IN some worlds
This

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Twisted-Christmas-Sister/dp/B000J104LK/ref=sr_1_9?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1354176868&sr=1-9

is as "traditional" and Carols from Kings

[Triforium]

For a change of pace, I have always enjoyed these two CDs around Christmas time.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orpheus-Nativity-Psalmody/dp/B0000AZKK9/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1354187589&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enchanted-Carols-Various-Artists/dp/B0000242WN/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1354187352&sr=1-1

[chitreb]

The CD I keep returning to each year is Trinity College Cambridge - Carols from Trinity - from 1988 (Conifer Records Ltd). My version says it is "The Classical Collection Exclusive to Boots" (!). It includes Richard Marlow's version of the Advent Responsory which is a complete delight. I don't know if you can still get it new but the ISBN/EAN code is 5 014505 003485 and there are certainly some second hand ones around (on eBay etc).